Ep. 183 - HOW TO CELEBRATE WITHOUT BREAKING THE BANK: ESSENTIAL HOLIDAY BUDGET TIPS

In this episode of the Merging Life and Money Show, I share 10 budget-friendly holiday hacks to help you enjoy the festive season without breaking the bank. Learn how to plan early, find deals, make DIY gifts, and track your spending for a stress-free holiday. Plus, 📥download the FREE Holiday Budget Planner using the link below

Key Takeaways:

✅Set a Holiday Budget Early: 

Planning your holiday budget early is key to avoiding financial stress and overspending during the festive season.

✅Creative DIY Gift Ideas: 

Save money this holiday season with affordable and personalized DIY gift ideas that add a thoughtful touch without breaking the bank..

✅Using Digital Tools: Leverage digital tools and apps to track your holiday spending and find the best deals, helping you stay within budget..

✅Repurposing Decorations: Discover budget-friendly ways to repurpose and reuse decorations, giving your home a festive feel without the extra expense.

✅Smart Holiday Shopping: Shop smart this holiday season by starting early and avoiding impulsive buys, ensuring you get the best deals while sticking to your budget.

 🕒KEY MOMENTS IN THIS EPISODE 

 00:09 Ultimate Holiday Budget Hacks Revealed!

06:31 50% Rule: Holiday Spending Made Easy

10:52 Effortless Holiday Budgeting: Secret Tips Exposed

12:03 Smart Apps Slash Holiday Shopping Costs

15:12 Unforgettable Gifts: Experiences Beat Stuff!

18:47 AI Gift Magic: Personal Touch, Low Cost

25:04 Potluck Power: Celebrate Diversity, Save Money

28:33 Early Bird Savings: Shop Smart, Stay Rich

32:16 Community Christmas: Frugal Fun for All

36:01 Mindful Gifting: Less Stuff, More Joy

39:12 Small Savings, Big Rewards: $30K Secret

40:34 Creative Planning: Luxe Holidays on Budget

📥Don't forget to download your free copy of the Holiday Budget Planner https://mariejocaesar.com/holiday-budget-planner

Chapters

• 0:17 The Importance of Early Holiday Financial Planning
• 1:57 Holiday Spending Statistics and Budgeting Tips
• 4:12 Creating a Holiday Budget Early
• 10:12 Using Digital Tools to Track Expenses and Find Deals
• 14:13 DIY Gifts and Experience-Based Presents
• 19:47 Affordable Decorating Tips for a Festive Home
• 26:42 Smart and Early Holiday Shopping Tips
• 34:25 Embracing Mindful Consumption

Transcript

Ep. 183 - 10 BUDGET-FRIENDLY HOLIDAY HACKS FOR FINANCIAL FREEDOM 

 Hello and welcome to the Merging Life and Money Show, your go to podcast for smart financial and money-saving tips. 

As we enter October, many of us are starting to think about holiday shopping, festive decorations, and family gatherings. But with these joyful thoughts often comes the stress of holiday expenses. Did you know that holiday overspending can lead to financial strain that lasts well into the new year? That is why early financial planning for the holidays is so important. 

Today's episode is all about mastering your holiday budget and discovering creative ways to save money during the festive season. We are diving into 10 budget-friendly holiday hacks for financial freedom, a topic worthy for anyone looking to enjoy the holidays without breaking the bank. 

Before we explore our money-saving holiday hacks, let me introduce myself. I am Marie Jo Caesar, your Holistic Financial Wellness Strategist and host of the Merging Life and Money Show. My corporate leadership and personal finance background have taught me the importance of balancing practical money management with overall well-being. I am here to help you transform your approach to holiday spending and build lasting financial habits. 

Now, let's discuss why these holiday budget tips are so important. According to recent holiday spending statistics from PWC's Holiday Outlook, the average shopper plans to spend $1,638 on gifts, travel, and holiday entertainment this year. That is 7 % increase from last year! For middle-income households earning between $40,000 and $100,000 annually, the average holiday budget is $947. These numbers highlight the need for small budgeting and cost-effective holiday planning. 

As I mentioned a few moments ago, we will unpack 10 practical, budget-friendly holiday hacks. Whether you are looking to create a holiday budget planner, find affordable gift ideas, or discover cheap holiday decorating tips, we've got you covered. We'll explore everything from early holiday shopping strategies to creative DIY gift ideas and low-cost holiday entertainment options. 

Before diving into our first holiday hacks, I want to let you know about an exciting resource I have created to help you implement the money-saving strategies we will discuss today. I've put together a special holiday budget planner bundle. 

 This comprehensive toolkit is designed to guide you through the entire holiday season, keeping your finances on track every step of the way. The first item in this bundle, a customized holiday budget planner, a spreadsheet, will be available on our website for free. 

Throughout October, we will release new tools in this bundle each week, including a holiday savings timeline, A guide for creative, low-cost gift ideas and a stress-free holiday checklist.

Now, let's begin your journey to a financially stress-free holiday season with our first money-saving holiday hack. 

Our first hack is all about creating a holiday budget early. You know the saying: the early bird catches a worm. In this case, the early planner catches the savings. By addressing your budget now, in October, you are positioning yourself to make informed decisions, avoid last-minute financial pressures, and align your holiday spending with your broader financial goals. Here's a sobering statistic. A LendingTree survey found that 34 % of Americans took on holiday debt in 2023. By setting a clear budget, now you can join the 66% who avoid this financial stress. Imagine stepping into January without that financial hangover. Sounds good, doesn't it? 

But start by taking a good, hard look at your current financial situation. Review your income, your regular expenses, and your savings goals. This overview will help you determine how much you can comfortably allocate to holiday spending without compromising your financial stability.

Let's walk through this process together. Say you bring home $4,000 a month after taxes. Your regular monthly expenses, right? Rent or mortgage, utilities, groceries, transportation, and other essentials come to $3,000. You are also trying to save $500 a month for your emergency fund and long-term goals. That leaves you with $500 of discretionary income each month. 

Now, don't fall into the trap of thinking you can spend all of that $500 on holiday expenses for the next three months. Remember, you still want some wiggle room for other non-holiday related expenses or small indulgences. A good rule of thumb is to allocate about half of your discretionary income to holiday spending. In this case, that would be $250 a month for October, November, and December, giving you a total holiday budget of $750. 

Of course, your specific numbers will vary, but this exercise gives you a clear picture of what you can realistically afford without jeopardizing your financial stability or going into debt.

And don't forget to consider your past holiday spending patterns. Were there areas where you overspent? Did you feel financial strain in January due to holiday expenses? Use these insights to inform your budget this year. Maybe last year, you spent too much on decorations that you barely used, or perhaps you went overboard with hostess gifts for all the parties you attended. Identifying these pain points can help you allocate your funds more wisely this year. 

Now, once you have your overall budget, it's time for our second hack, allocating funds for different spending categories. Think of this as creating a roadmap for your holiday spending. By breaking down your budget into specific categories, you are allowing for more precise planning and helping prevent overspending in any one area.

Common categories include gifts, decorations, meals, and entertaining, travel, and charitable donations. When allocating funds, consider what's most important to you and your family. Is it having a beautiful, decorated home, giving generous gifts, or traveling to see family? This prioritization helps ensure that you are spending money on the aspects of the holiday season that bring you the most joy and meaning.

Let's break this down with an example. Let's go back to our $750 holiday budget. Here is how you might allocate it: 

$400 for gifts. This is often the largest category for many people. 

$50 for decorations, assuming you already have some decorations from previous years, $150 for meals and entertaining, and that's for hosting a holiday dinner and contributing to potlucks. $100 for travel for gas or contributing to shared travel costs with family. $50 in charitable donations to support causes important to you during the giving season. 

Remember, these allocations can and should be adjusted based on your personal priorities. If you are not hosting any event this year, you might allocate less to meals and entertaining and more to travel or gifts. The key is to be intentional about where your money is going. Our third hack brings us into the digital age, using digital tools to track expenses and find deals. In today's world, we have so many resources at our fingertips to help us manage our finances. Budgeting apps like Mint, YNAB, You Need a Budget, or Personal Capital offer convenient ways to set up your holiday budget and monitor your spending in real-time.

Let me walk you through how you might use one of these apps. Let's take Mint as an example. Once you've set up your account and linked your bank and credit card accounts, you can create a special holiday budget category. You can then set your total holiday budget, in our example, that $750, and break it down into subcategories, as we discussed earlier. As you make purchases, Mint will automatically categorize them based on where you shopped. You might need to go in and manually recategorize some transactions to your holiday subcategories, but this becomes easier as the app learns your spending patterns. The real magic happens when you open the app before making a purchase. You can quickly check how much you've spent and how much you have left in each category, helping you make informed decisions in the moment. 

 If you are more of a spreadsheet person, tools like Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets can be excellent for creating and managing a holiday budget. These tools offer more flexibility in how you set up and visualize your budget. You might create separate sheets for each spending category, use formulas to automatically calculate your remaining budget as you input your expenses, or create charts to visually represent your spending patterns. 

But it's not just about tracking expenses. It's about finding the best deals as well. Price comparison apps like ShopSavvy or PriceGrabber allow you to scan barcodes or search for products to compare prices across multiple retailers. Imagine you are out shopping, and you find a gift you think would be perfect for your nephew, for example. Before you buy, you can quickly scan the barcode with ShopSavvy. The app will show you if the same item is available for a lower price at another store nearby or online. So this can lead to significant savings, especially when you are buying multiple gifts. 

And don't forget about digital coupon apps and browser extensions like Honey or Rakuten. This can help you find and apply discount codes automatically when shopping online. It's like having a savvy shopping assistant right in your pocket. Here is a pro tip. When you're shopping online, add items to your cart, but don't check out immediately. Many retailers will send you a discount code within a day or two to encourage you to complete your purchase. Combine this with a tool like Honey, which will automatically try various coupon codes at checkout, and you could see some serious savings. 

Now let's talk about gifts. Our fourth hack is all about making DIY gifts or giving experience-based presents. This is one of my favorite ways to manage holiday expenses because it allows you to infuse your presents with personal meaning and care. Did you know that a Deloitte holiday retail survey revealed that 37 % of consumers prefer to buy gifts that are experiences rather than material items? This trend aligns perfectly with our budget-friendly DIY gift ideas. Think about your skills and interests when brainstorming the DIY gift ideas. Are you a whiz in the kitchen? Maybe you could create homemade jams, flavored oils, or baked goods.

If you are crafty, consider knitted scarves and painted ornaments or personalized photo albums. Even if you don't consider yourself particularly crafty, simple projects like creating a photo collage or assembling a themed gift basket can be meaningful and budget-friendly options. 

Experience-based gifts are another great option. These could include tickets to a local event, a homemade coupon code for services like babysitting, home-cooked meals, or a planned day trip. These gifts create memories that are often more valuable than material possessions. 

For instance, instead of buying your parents another gadget they might not use, how about gifting them a monthly movie night package? You could create a cute certificate promising to come over once a month for a year to watch a movie with them. Include some microwave popcorn and their favorite movie snacks. Each month, you choose a classic film to watch together. This gift costs very little but provides 12 months of quality time and shared experiences. 

For those who prefer tangible gifts, consider upcycling or repurposing items. Free stores, flea markets, and online marketplaces can be treasure troves for unique and affordable finds. With a bit of creativity, you can transform these items into personalized gifts. For example, you might find a plain wooden picture frame at a thrift store for a dollar or two. With some paint and decorative elements, you could turn it into a beautiful personalized frame that looks like it costs much more.

Books are another excellent option for affordable gifting. Look for used bookstores or online marketplaces where you can find gently used copies at a fraction of the original price. Pair a book with a cozy blanket or homemade bookmark for a thoughtful reading-themed gift. You could even create a book-lover survival kit. With a used book, some tea or hot chocolate, a cute mug from a thrift store, and a handmade bookmark. It is a thoughtful, personalized gift that will not break the bank. 

Here's an exciting development. Artificial intelligence has opened up new possibilities for creating personalized gifts at minimal cost in recent years. AI-powered tools can generate unique artwork, custom stories, or even personalized music with just a few prompts. 

For example, you could use an AI art generator to create a custom piece of art based on your friend's favorite things. Let's say your friend loves cats, the color blue, and Van Gogh's style. You could input these preferences into an AI art tool and generate a unique van Gogh-style painting of a blue cat. Printed out on good quality paper, pop it into a frame, and you have a one-of-a-kind piece of art that your friend will treasure. 

Or how about using AI to write a personalized short story? You could input details about your gift recipient, their name, some of their interests, and perhaps a favorite place, and have the AI generate a short story featuring them as a main character. Print it out, bind it simply, and you have a unique personalized book. 

However, remember that while AI can assist in the creative process, the thoughtfulness behind the gift still comes from you. The key is to use AI as a tool to enhance your gift giving not to replace the personal touch entirely.

Moving on to our fifth, implementing affordable decorating tips. Creating a festive atmosphere in your home doesn't have to be an expensive endeavor. With some creativity and resourcefulness, you can transform your space into a holiday wonderland without breaking the bank. 

Start by taking inventory of the decorations you already have. Often, we forget about items stored away and end up purchasing duplicates unnecessarily. Consider how you might repurpose or rearrange these decorations for a fresh look. For example, that garland you usually put on the mantel. Try draping it around a doorway instead. Or take the ornaments you normally hang on the tree and arrange them in a clear glass bowl as a festive centerpiece. 

Nature provides an abundance of free or low-cost decorating materials as well. Pine cones, branches, and leaves can be gathered and used to create beautiful centerpieces, wreaths, and garlands. Not only does this approach save money, but it also brings a touch of the outdoors inside, creating a cozy and natural ambiance. 

Lighting plays a key role in creating a festive atmosphere. Instead of purchasing new light fixtures, consider repurposing string lights you might already have. These versatile lights can be used to outline windows, create a full fireplace display, or be placed in glass jars for a magical effect.

Here's a cozy idea. Place some of those string lights in a large glass jar or vase. Instant magical lantern. Place a few of these around your living room or on your porch for a warm, inviting glow. If you don't have large glass containers, check your local thrift store. They often have a great selection of vases and jars at various prices.

If you need to purchase your decorations, shop strategically. Look for post-holiday sales to stock up for the following year. Discount stores and thrift shops can also be excellent sources for affordable decorations. Remember, with a bit of creativity, even simple items can be transformed into stunning decorations.

Our sixth hack is about celebrating diverse traditions economically. The holiday season encompasses a wide variety of cultural and religious traditions. Embracing this diversity can lead to rich, meaningful celebrations that don't necessarily require significant financial outlay. 

Start by exploring the core values and practices of different holiday traditions. Many emphasize community, gratitude, and togetherness over material exchanges. By focusing on these aspects, you can create meaningful celebrations that are inherently more affordable. 

For instance, you could create a reverse advent calendar. Instead of receiving a small gift each day, place a non-perishable food item in a box daily. At the end of the Advent period, donate the collected items to a local food bank. This practice combines the joy of anticipation with the spirit of giving. 

Incorporate storytelling in your holiday gathering. Many cultures have rich oral traditions associated with the holidays. Sharing these stories costs nothing but can greatly enrich your celebrations and help pass on cultural heritage. You could designate one evening a week during the holiday season as a story night. Invite family members or friends to share holiday stories from their cultural backgrounds. It is a wonderful way to learn about different traditions and create new shared memories. 

Music is another powerful and affordable way to celebrate diverse traditions. Create playlists featuring holiday music from various cultures. This can be an educational experience as well as a festive one. Introducing family members to new sounds and traditions. You could even turn this into a game-play songs from different cultural traditions and see who can guess the origin of each tune.

When it comes to holiday meals, potluck style gatherings can be an excellent way to share the financial burden and celebrate diversity. Encourage guests to bring dishes representing their cultural heritage or family traditions. This reduces the cost for the host and creates a varied and interesting menu.

Here is how you might organize this. Create a sign-up sheet with categories like appetizers, main dishes, sides, and desserts. Ask each guest to bring a dish that represents their cultural background or family tradition. Take me as an example. I am a French Caribbean person. If I were invited to a potluck dinner and asked to bring some of my country's traditional holiday meals, I would bring a delightful mix of boudin créole, accras de morue, gratin de christophine, or bûche de Noël. This blend of traditional Caribbean French cuisine and holiday favorites celebrates our diverse heritage and creates a rich, meaningful holiday experience for all attending the potluck dinner. 

Our seventh hack is all about shopping smart and early. The National Retail Federation reports that 43 % of holiday shoppers start their shopping before November. These early birds often benefit from better prices and less financial pressure. Let's break down why this strategy works so well.

First, By spreading your purchases over a longer period, you avoid the financial strain of making all your holiday-related purchases in a short time frame. Think about it. If you need to buy gifts for 10 people, would you rather spread that cost over three months or cram it all into December's budget? 

Here's a practical way to approach this. Look at your gift list and divide it into three parts. Aim to purchase one-third of your gifts in October, another third in November, and the final third in early December. This approach not only spreads out the financial impact but also gives you more time to think about each, potentially leading to more fruitful choices. Starting early also allows you to compare prices, find the best deals, and make more informed decisions about your purchases. Many retailers offer significant discounts during October and early November, anticipating the holiday shopping season. These sale events can provide excellent opportunities to secure gifts and holiday essentials at reduced prices. 

For example, many stores have pre-Black Friday sales in late October or early November. These sales often Have discounts rivaling Black Friday but without the crowds and the pressure. Keep an eye out for these events, and be ready to snag great deals on your planned purchases. 

However, it is important to approach these sales with your predetermined budget and gift list in hand to avoid impulsive purchases that may string your finances. It's easy to get caught up in the excitement of a good deal and buy things you don't really need. Before making any purchases, ask yourself, Is this on my list? Does it fit within my budget? Would I buy this if it wasn't on sale? If the answer to any of these questions is no, it might be best to pass. 

Speaking of early deals, Amazon Prime Big Deals Days was just a few days ago. This event offered an excellent opportunity to kickstart your holiday shopping and potentially save on gifts and holiday essentials. However, I want to emphasize the importance of sticking to your budget even during these exciting sales. Only purchase items you've planned for to avoid overspending. And remember, a good deal is only truly beneficial if it aligns with your overall financial plan and holiday budget. 

When shopping early, consider potential shipping delays or supply chain issues that may arise closer to the holidays. By making your purchases well in advance, you reduce the risk of last-minute stress and potential overspending due to limited availability or expedited shipping costs.

Here's another pro tip. If you are shopping online, use tools like CamelCamelCamel for Amazon purchases. This website tracks price histories so you can see if the current price is a good deal or if the item will likely be cheaper later. Many other retailers have similar price tracking tools available.

 Our eight hack focuses on fostering community through shared experiences. The holiday season provides an excellent opportunity to strengthen community bonds and create shared experiences that enrich our lives without necessarily increasing our expenses. By involving your community in your holiday celebrations, you can distribute costs, reduce individual financial burdens, and create more meaningful and memorable experiences. 

Consider organizing a neighborhood holiday event. This could be as simple as a caroling evening or as elaborate as a street party. The key is to make it a collaborative effort where everyone contributes a little rather than one person bearing all the cost and effort. 

For example, you could organize a holiday lights walk in your neighborhood. Encourage neighbors to decorate their houses with lights and arrange a specific evening for everyone to walk around together and admire the displays. You could even add a competitive element with small prizes for the best decorations and finish the evening with hot cocoa in someone's garage or a local community center. It's a festive community-building event that costs very little but creates lasting memories. 

Group gifting initiatives such as Secret Santa or White Elephant Exchanges can significantly reduce individual gift expenses while maintaining the joy of gift-giving. Set a reasonable price limit that aligns with participants' budgets and encourage thoughtful and personalized gifts rather than expensive purchases. 

Here's how you might organize a white elephant exchange with a twist. Set a price limit of say $20, but encourage participants to give either a handmade gift or a secondhand item. This not only keeps costs down but also promotes creativity and sustainability. You might end up with unique gifts like a beautifully refurbished vintage lamp, a hand-knitted scarf, or a collection of homemade preserves.

Community-based holiday activities can provide enriching experiences at a minimal cost. Organized neighborhood caroling events and community tree lighting ceremonies or holiday-themed potluck dinners. These activities foster a sense of belonging and shared celebration without requiring significant financial investment from individuals. 

Our ninth hack is about embracing mindful consumption. As we approach the holiday season, it's easy to get caught up in the frenzy of consumerism. But by adopting a mindful approach to consumption, we can reduce unnecessary spending and focus on what truly matters. 

Before making a purchase, pause and ask yourself, do I really need this? Will it bring lasting value or joy? This simple practice can help curb impulse buying and ensure that your purchases align with your values and your budget, as mentioned before. 

Let's put this into practice. Say you are out shopping, and you see a beautiful holiday-themed throw pillow. It's on sale, and you are tempted to buy it. Before you do, ask yourself those questions. Do I really need another throw pillow? Will it bring lasting value, or will it just be packed away with the decorations after the holidays? If you decide you don't need it, take a moment to appreciate its beauty and then move on without buying it. You might be surprised at how satisfying this can be. You've appreciated something beautiful without needing to own it. 

Consider the environmental impact of your holiday choices as well. Opt for gifts and decorations that are sustainable and long-lasting. This benefits the planet and often results in higher quality items that provide better value for money in the long run.

For instance, consider using reusable gift bags or even beautiful fabric wraps inspired by the Japanese Furoshiki technique instead of buying disposable gift wraps. Not only is this more environmentally friendly, but it can also save you money in the long run as you reuse these wraps year after year.

Mindful consumption also extends to how we spend our time during the holidays. Instead of getting caught up in the commercial aspects of the season, focus on creating meaningful experiences and strengthening relationships. The most cherished holiday memories often come from simple moments spent with loved ones, not from extravagant gifts or decorations.

Try this: set aside one evening a week during the holiday season as a no-spend night. Turn off the TV to avoid commercials, put away your phones, and spend time together as a family. You could play board games, share stories, or work on a puzzle together. These simple, cost-free activities often create the warmest memories. 

By adopting a mindful approach to holiday spending, you can avoid the common pitfall of starting the new year burdened with debt. This financial freedom allows for a more positive and proactive start to the year, enabling you to focus on your long-term financial goals rather than playing catch up from holiday overspending. 

I encourage you to view your holiday spending decisions through the lens of your broader financial objective. Every dollar saved during the holiday season is a dollar that can be redirected to important financial goals such as building an emergency fund, saving for a down payment on the home or investing for retirement. 

Let's put some numbers to this. Say you typically spend $1,000 on holiday gifts and celebrations, but by implementing these hacks, you managed to cut down to $700 this year. That is $300 saved. Now, imagine you invest that $300 in a retirement account, earning an average of 7% annually. In 30 years, that $300 could go to over $2,200. If you make this a yearly habit. Save $300 each holiday season. And invest it. After 30 years, you could have an extra $30,000 in your retirement account. That's the power of thinking long-term.

Furthermore, the habits and skills developed during this intentional approach to holiday spending can have a lasting benefit. Budgeting, price comparison, and thoughtful gift-giving are valuable financial skills that can be applied year-round, contributing to overall financial wellness. 

Remember, being financially mindful during the holidays does not mean sacrificing joy or meaningful experiences. Instead, it allows for a more intentional and often more satisfying celebration aligned with your values and long-term aspirations. 

And as we wrap up our discussion on budget-friendly holiday hacks, let's reflect on the wisdom of Benjamin Franklin, who once said, Beware of little expenses. A small leak will sink a great ship. This quote perfectly encapsulates our approach to holiday spending. By being mindful of our expenses, planning ahead, and embracing creativity. We can navigate the holiday season without compromising our financial well-being,

Remember, the true spirit of the season lies not in extravagant spending but in the connections we forge and the memories we create. By implementing these budget-friendly strategies, you are saving money and setting yourself up for a more relaxed, enjoyable holiday season and a stronger financial foundation for the new year. 

 As you move forward with your holiday planning, remember that every small decision contributes to your overall financial health. By staying true to your budget and values, you can celebrate abundantly without the burden of financial stress. Let this holiday season be a testament to your financial wisdom and creativity. 

Don't forget to download our customizable holiday budget planner from our website. 

 Please share your own budget-friendly holiday hacks on our social media platforms using the hashtag #mergingholidaymoney. Your ideas could be featured in an upcoming episode, inspiring others to celebrate smartly. 

 Thank you for tuning in to today's episode. Your engagement and commitment to financial wellness are truly inspiring. I am grateful for each of you who takes these strategies to heart and shares them with others. Together, we are building a community that values both joyful celebrations and financial responsibility. 

Next week, we will be diving into another important aspect of financial wellness as we approach the end of the year. Our topic will be Year End Financial Checkup- Mastering your Money Before 2025. We will explore essential strategies to ensure you are on track with your financial goals and set yourself up for success in the coming year. It is a perfect follow-up to our holiday budgeting discussion, so be sure to tune in. 

I am your host, Marie-Jo Caesar. I will be back again next week. Until then, continue merging life and money. Bye for now.